This theater is still standing; Google Maps tends to have issues with diagonal streets in particular. The building is about 3 stories with a picture window on the second floor and a round bay on the third.
I’d contest that it was demolished; newspaper ads exist in May 1914, February 1916 (As simply “Palace”), January 1917, and February 1918,. Sanborn fire insurance maps from 1917 and 1950 likewise show the building as built in 1908 and show a capacity of 1433.
I’d tend to believe that’s a conflation – at the time, the address of the Plaisir would have been 3947 or 3949 Crawford (street was later renamed) and the existing Grayland 3940 Cicero. Making this even more easily mixed-up, Pulaski/Crawford’s original name was 40th Avenue while Cicero’s original name was 48th. A simple smudge and improperly changed street name could result in an erroneous entry. Also it just seems unlikely that two theaters in such close proximity (8 blocks) would have the same name at the same time on the same N-S axis.
Also, the Palace Opera House was apparently originally a Yiddish theater, claimed by the Tribune to be the “largest in the west”. Also it was open at least into 1951, according to a fire notice. Today this whole stretch of Blue Island Avenue has been swallowed by UIC.
Sanborn fire insurance maps show a seating of 800 with a horseshoe-type balcony. Interestingly, dressing rooms were provided in a narrow structure adjacent to the stage.
Nah, the Essaness design was distinctly different. Looked a lot more like your average early mall multiplex sort of lobby. I think it had a straight-across counter, for example. Plus, David Mesbur (note that he was not partnered with Smith until 1992) was based out of Canada, as was CO itself. Mesbur’s bio describes the 1983-1990 arrangement as “exclusive” which I would take to indicate that he was not working with other companies.
The original name from 1915 was Albany Park, then Capitol; it closed around 1927, and was converted into a bowling alley. When B&K took it over opening Christmas 1934, they spent $25,000 under plans from Rissman & Hirschfeld remodeling it back into a theater; B&K said that the exterior would be “the most elaborate of anything so far seen in Chicago, surpassing even the newest loop cinemas in the use of neon tube lights and mazdas.” It closed sometime in the early 50s, briefly served as a meeting hall, in 1952 turned back into bowling lanes, in 1966-68 served as temporary home to Frankel Furniture, and in 1968 it reopened as the short-lived rock club Strawberry Fields.
Yeah, I went there a few times. I didn’t think it was too bad. And it could draw a decent audience depending on the film. Terribly understaffed though, I used to have friends who would walk right in without paying.
Carpeting, decor, concession stand. Probably the lighting in the theatres. There are pictures at the Theatre Historical Society. This would have been 86-87.
you might try looking at old newspapers or microfilm at your library, if they have any. it likely would say, either with the last ad or in an article about it closing.
This theater is still standing; Google Maps tends to have issues with diagonal streets in particular. The building is about 3 stories with a picture window on the second floor and a round bay on the third.
This was one of Rapp and Rapp’s earliest.
The building’s original architect was Christian Albert Eckstorm. See Columbia College’s Site for more.
I’d contest that it was demolished; newspaper ads exist in May 1914, February 1916 (As simply “Palace”), January 1917, and February 1918,. Sanborn fire insurance maps from 1917 and 1950 likewise show the building as built in 1908 and show a capacity of 1433.
Opened 1995
I’d tend to believe that’s a conflation – at the time, the address of the Plaisir would have been 3947 or 3949 Crawford (street was later renamed) and the existing Grayland 3940 Cicero. Making this even more easily mixed-up, Pulaski/Crawford’s original name was 40th Avenue while Cicero’s original name was 48th. A simple smudge and improperly changed street name could result in an erroneous entry. Also it just seems unlikely that two theaters in such close proximity (8 blocks) would have the same name at the same time on the same N-S axis.
Also, the Palace Opera House was apparently originally a Yiddish theater, claimed by the Tribune to be the “largest in the west”. Also it was open at least into 1951, according to a fire notice. Today this whole stretch of Blue Island Avenue has been swallowed by UIC.
As the Globe, this was run by the H&E Balaban chain. The Palace Opera House was designed by Samuel Levy, later of Levy & Klein.
The Buckingham’s site is very odd-shaped; I wonder what the interior was like.
Sanborn fire insurance maps show a seating of 800 with a horseshoe-type balcony. Interestingly, dressing rooms were provided in a narrow structure adjacent to the stage.
A Sanborn Fire Insurance Map says the Covent had 2684 seats and 3 balconies and a 20,000 gallon water tank (described above)
Nah, the Essaness design was distinctly different. Looked a lot more like your average early mall multiplex sort of lobby. I think it had a straight-across counter, for example. Plus, David Mesbur (note that he was not partnered with Smith until 1992) was based out of Canada, as was CO itself. Mesbur’s bio describes the 1983-1990 arrangement as “exclusive” which I would take to indicate that he was not working with other companies.
And the present use is a plumbing fixture store called “Showerworks”
Also, two Sanborn maps show the capacity as 496.
I was mistaken; the central was in fact located at 3937 N Central Park, just a few doors away.
The Capitol name was 1924-1926.
The original name from 1915 was Albany Park, then Capitol; it closed around 1927, and was converted into a bowling alley. When B&K took it over opening Christmas 1934, they spent $25,000 under plans from Rissman & Hirschfeld remodeling it back into a theater; B&K said that the exterior would be “the most elaborate of anything so far seen in Chicago, surpassing even the newest loop cinemas in the use of neon tube lights and mazdas.” It closed sometime in the early 50s, briefly served as a meeting hall, in 1952 turned back into bowling lanes, in 1966-68 served as temporary home to Frankel Furniture, and in 1968 it reopened as the short-lived rock club Strawberry Fields.
Yeah, I went there a few times. I didn’t think it was too bad. And it could draw a decent audience depending on the film. Terribly understaffed though, I used to have friends who would walk right in without paying.
General Cinemas used to do the Bowling/Theatre thing too.
Carpeting, decor, concession stand. Probably the lighting in the theatres. There are pictures at the Theatre Historical Society. This would have been 86-87.
It was remodeled fairly extensively when it went from Essaness to C-O, but that was rather early on.
The later, smaller Rialto’s entry is now at /theaters/18330/
you might try looking at old newspapers or microfilm at your library, if they have any. it likely would say, either with the last ad or in an article about it closing.
A year since the wrecking ball hit and still nothing but scaffolding and a pit. No progress whatsoever, one more disgrace in the 49th ward.
HEre is a photo of the Garrick ornament as installed at the Second City.